“We’ve been working with partners in this region for a number of years,” said Executive Director Hans Voss. “Recently we were invited by community leaders to expand our programs in a way that would benefit the local communities. This is a great opportunity to increase our impact.”

In 2015 theLocal Food Alliance(LFA) of Northern Michigan approached Groundwork about a desire to increase the region’s capacity to build on their all-volunteer group’s accomplishments. The goal was to catalyze efforts to create a positive collective impact in the Petoskey region — including farm- to-school programming and food access initiatives.

“The Local Food Alliance has had success planning and implementing the new initiatives in the Petoskey area, but we knew that in order to change the entire regional food system, it was going to take more horses ‘pulling the plow’,” said Wendy Wieland, an LFA member who works with food and farm entrepreneurs through Michigan State University Extension. “Changing the way we eat can have huge payoffs, but it requires tremendous talent and collaborative partners, like Groundwork and thePetoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, that are willing to commit to a long-term process.”

According to a 2014 study conducted by Feeding America, nationally, 15.7% of Michigan children experience food insecurity. Antrim (22.9%), Charlevoix (20.3%) and Emmet (19.2%) counties all have higher rates of food insecurity than Michigan as a whole. With many low-income families utilizing food pantries and meal sites as primary sources of food during times of economic hardship, the foods offered in these places become another critical intervention point in the effort to increase access to healthy, local food for children and families.

The expansion of Groundwork’s farm-to-school and food access programs will help connect vulnerable children and families to healthy, local food through a series of strategic initiatives implemented in schools, food pantries and meal sites throughout the region. By working with teachers, parents, administrators, food service staff, and other school health advocates, Groundwork’s farm to school programs help children lead healthier lives, and provide a positive economic impact for local farmers and school meal programs.

This is why Groundwork is expanding its important food and farming work to Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.